Medical Examiner Confirms 33-Week Abortion Killed Young Woman

The chief medical examiner’s office in Baltimore has confirmed that a botched late-term abortion claimed the life of a young New York women who died recently at a Maryland abortion clinic.Jennifer McKenna Morbelli, a 29-year-old woman from New Rochelle, New York died from a botched 33-week abortion on February 7.

Now the chief medical examiner in Baltimore has confirmed she died when amniotic fluid seeped into her bloodstream, according to new entries on her death certificate. The new entry lists “amniotic fluid embolism following termination of pregnancy” as one of two causes of death. The second is “disseminated intravascular coagulation,” a condition during which small blood cots form in blood vessels.

The death certificate lists the manner of Morbelli’s Feb, 7 death as “natural.” The other standard categories for manner of death are “accidental,” “homicide” and “suicide.”

A spokeswoman for the Montgomery County Police Department in Maryland, which is investigating the Morbelli case, said investigators are still awaiting the full autopsy report, which is typically issued 60-90 days after a death.

The medical examiner had listed the manner and cause of death as “pending” until Wednesday, when further details emerged in the case that has become a cause celebre for abortion foes.

Natural manner of death would not exclude medical malpractice and authorities are waiting for the full autopsy report to make any final decisions concerning their investigation.

Officials with the pro-life group Operation Rescue tell LifeNews the information from the medical examiner is consistent with information provided by a confidential source that Morbelli suffered profuse internal bleeding and hematocrit levels that were “incompatible with life.”

“There can be no doubt now that Jennifer died an avoidable death from abortion complications at the hands of LeRoy Carhart. This is a now case of malpractice and negligence,” said Troy Newman, President of Operation Rescue. “We will be announcing our full response to this new information soon.”

Following a new probe started by local officials, the Maryland Attorney General has opened an investigation into the late-term abortion practitioner who killed a Morbelli. The Maryland Attorney General’s office is not specifically looking into Morbelli’s deathbut it is looking at illegal dumping by the abortion clinic that could result in fines or other form of punishment.

Among the papers was a document instructing women not to go to the ER in the event of an emergency, but instead to “call and we will meet you at the clinic,” which is clearly dangerous medical advice. The number given in the instructions has now been connected to a business Carhart owns.

The Maryland Attorney General’s office notified the Maryland Coalition for Life and Operation Rescue that is has late-term abortion practitioner LeRoy Carhart and Germantown Reproductive Health Services under an active criminal investigation for illegal dumping, based on complaints made by both groups last year. This investigation is separate to ongoing investigations into Morbelli’s death, OR informed LifeNews, that are currently underway by the State Medical Examiner, the Montgomery Police Department, and the state’s Office of Health Care Quality.

David Williams of the Maryland Attorney General’s Environmental Crimes Unit contacted Janet Kotowski, a pro-life sidewalk counselor in Germantown, to notify her that an investigation was underway. Kotowski wrote a letter last November asking the agency to look into illegal dumping of biohazardous waste and private patient information at Germantown Reproductive Health Center in follow up to a complaint filed by Operation Rescue in July, 2012.

Cheryl Sullenger of Operation Rescue also spoke with Williams yesterday and has agreed to turn over unedited video-taped evidence of the illegal dumping documented last year to aid in his investigation.

“This is a very serious criminal investigation,” Williams told Sullenger.

In July, 2012, Operation Rescue filed a formal complaint with the Environmental Crimes Unit and released edited video and photographic evidence that showed GRHS and Carhart engaged in the illegal dumping on a routine basis. Evidence included:

Sullenger continued, “The tragic death of Mrs. Morbelli from a botched 33-week abortion may be the catalyst that will finally bring Carhart to justice. It’s too bad that a woman had to die before authorities would sit up and take notice.”

Morbelli died as the result of fatal complications suffered during an abortion at 33 weeks at the hand of late-term abortion practitioner LeRoy Carhart. The abortion took place at the Germantown Reproductive Health Center in Germantown, Maryland. Her 33-week-old preborn daughter, Madison Leigh, died in the failed legal abortion as well.

Morbelli arrived at Germantown Reproductive Health Center on February 3 to start the abortion process. Local pro-life advocates protesting outside saw her every day until yesterday, and described her as appearing “pale and weak.”